Answers

Q. Is 100% juice healthy for me and my family?

Yes, fresh, frozen and canned fruit, as well as 100% juice, each count toward daily fruit servings and provide key nutrients to support a healthy lifestyle. In fact the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and leading health organizations state that 100% fruit juice can be part of a healthy diet and can help people meet their daily goals for fruit intake. 100% juice, like 100% grape juice, is a nutrient-dense beverage that provides vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant nutrients, like polyphenols. Additionally, 100% juice contains only naturally occurring fruit sugars and no added sugars. For more on the science behind 100% fruit juice, download our 100% Fruit Juice & Health fact sheet.

Q. How does Welch’s 100% juice fit into the new MyPlate recommendations?

MyPlate, created by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is a visual to help people follow the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which emphasize that a healthy diet includes an array of colorful produce. MyPlate encourages Americans to make half their plate fruits and vegetables to help meet daily produce recommendations. As a complement to whole fruit, 100% fruit juice can help meet daily fruit needs. Just one 4-oz. glass of 100% juice counts as 1 serving (1/2 cup) of fruit. For further recommendations, visit choosemyplate.gov.

Q: What is unique about the Concord grape?

Named for its birthplace of Concord, MA, the Concord grape is one truly American Superfruit. This one-of-a-kind, dark purple grape is bold, delicious and delivers natural plant nutrients called polyphenols. Not only do polyphenols give Concord grapes their signature purple color, research has shown that they can also deliver benefits to promote health. In fact, 20 years of research shows that 100% grape juice made with Concord grapes helps support a healthy heart. And, while more research is needed, preliminary studies suggest that it may provide benefits in other areas of health, including cognitive function.

Q. How is the Concord grape different from other grapes?

Concord grapes are distinct from other grapes, including many table grapes, because they have a thick, dark purple skin and crunchy seeds.

Dark purple seeded grapes, like the Concord grape, have more polyphenols than many table grapes, because these healthy plant nutrients are concentrated in the seeds as well as in the colorful skin. In fact, the darker the grape color, the more polyphenols you’ll likely find.

Q. What are the health benefits of Welch’s 100% Grape Juice?

Fresh Concord grapes are difficult to find: they have a very short harvest season and grow only in specific regions of North America. Plus, they are delicate and don’t travel well. Whole Concord grapes are used to make 100% grape juice, with no added sugars. So, by drinking Welch’s 100% Grape Juice, you can be sure you’re getting the heart-health benefits offered by the Concord grape. What’s more, in moderation and as a complement to whole fruit, Welch’s 100% Grape Juice is a delicious and easy way to squeeze more fruit into a healthy diet. Every 4-oz. glass serves up 1 serving (1/2 cup) of fruit with no added sugar.

Q. Can you get the same benefits from Welch’s 100% Grape Juice as you can from red wine?

Welch’s 100% Grape Juice has many of the same heart-health benefits as red wine. While the alcohol in red wine, when consumed in moderation, has been shown to benefit heart health, Welch’s 100% Grape Juice can be an option for those that choose not to drink alcoholic beverages. Research suggests that, in addition to the alcohol, the natural plant nutrients (polyphenols) in red wine can play a role in supporting heart health, and many of these same polyphenols can also be found in Concord grapes and Welch’s 100% Grape Juice. To build on that, 20 years of research says that 100% grape juice made with Concord grapes can help support a healthy heart.

Q. What are the health benefits of Welch’s 100% White Grape Juice?

Welch’s 100% White Grape Juice is made with a blend of grapes, including the Niagara grape grown in North America by Welch’s network of family farmers. As a complement to whole fruit, Welch's 100% White Grape Juice is a delicious and refreshing way to squeeze more fruit into a healthy diet. A 4-oz. glass of Welch’s 100% White Grape Juice counts as one serving (½ cup) of fruit with no added sugar.

Q. I thought all fruits and veggies were important - why do I need to pay attention to purple?

All fruits and vegetables are important, and most Americans aren’t getting enough in their diets. It’s also important to get a variety of produce from a wide range of colors, since the vitamin, minerals and plant nutrients found in fruits and vegetables can vary. In particular, people are falling short on getting enough purple produce, which accounts for only 3% of total fruit and vegetable intake. According to a national survey, drinking and eating purple and blue fruits and vegetables is associated with healthier eating patterns in children and adults, and overall better health in adults. For information on why purple is important, visit Power of Purple.

Q. Where can I learn more about the health benefits of Concord and Niagara grapes?

The research and scientific community has been studying benefits associated with nutritious foods and beverages for years, and for 20 years Welch’s has supported grape science research endeavors. For more information on the science behind the grape’s health benefits, visit the Grape Science Center at grapescience.com.

Q. Do Welch's 100% juices have added sugar?

No, there's absolutely no sugar added to our 100% juice products. The grams of sugar you see on our labels actually refer to the naturally occurring sugars found in the fruit used to make our products. And, according to MyPlate (choosemyplate.gov), 100% fruit juice is a nutrient dense beverage choice and can help families achieve daily recommendations for fruit servings.

Q. Do any of Welch’s products contain caffeine?

All Welch’s products are caffeine-free.

Q. Do you use monosodium glutamate (MSG) in any of your products?

No, you can be assured that no MSG is used in any of our products.

Q. What is pectin, and what is the fruit pectin in your products made from?

Pectin is a substance derived from fruit, which yields a gel. To help our products gel, we use pectin in our jellies, jams and spreads. The particular pectin we use is derived from apples or citrus peel.

Q. Do Welch's juice products contain preservatives?

Welch’s ready-to-drink 100% Grape Juice and juice cocktails do not contain any preservatives. However, Welch’s ready-to-drink 100% White Grape Juice does contain the preservative potassium metabisulfite, which is added to prevent browning and maintain color. Welch’s Sparkling Juice Cocktails also contain potassium metabisulfite, as well as the preservative sodium benzoate. Many of our frozen concentrates and shelf stable concentrates contain sulfites to maintain flavor and color.

Q. Do Welch's jellies, jams and fruit spreads contain preservatives?

Most of our jellies, jams and fruit spreads do not contain preservatives. As long as the containers are refrigerated after opening, they should maintain their freshness for several months. Due to lower sugar levels, our reduced sugar jelly and spread do use a preservative to maintain freshness after the product is opened.

Q. What type of gelatin is used in Welch’s Fruit Snacks?

Based on availability, the gelatin used in Welch’s Fruit Snacks may be pork or beef based.

Q. Where can I learn more about the allergens in Welch’s products?

Click here to learn more about the allergens and ingredients in Welch’s products.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines these terms, and the definitions can be lengthy. However, as a general rule: “100% Juice” is either squeezed directly from the fruit or made from concentrated juice that is reconstituted with water. 100% juices don’t contain any added sugar. “Juice Cocktails” and “Juice Drinks” are formulated with less than 100% juice and, in most cases, contain added sweeteners as well. Note: You can find the juice content of all Welch’s Juice Beverages above the Nutrition Facts panel of the product label, shown as a percentage.

Q. What’s the difference between jelly, jam, preserves and spreads?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines these terms, and the definitions can be lengthy. However, as a general rule: Jelly is made from fruit juice; Jam is made from pureed fruit; Preserves are made from whole fruit; Spreads can be made from juice, whole fruit, and/or pureed fruit.

Q. What does "from concentrate” mean as noted on the label?

All juice manufacturers are required to state "from concentrate" on their front label if their product contains any juice from concentrate. "From concentrate" means that the juice from the fruit is concentrated, a process that removes the water to aid with product storage. Later, during juice bottling, water is added back to the concentrate to create a 100% juice. Reconstituted juice and not from concentrate juice both deliver nutrition from the fruit with no added sugar and each 4-ounce glass of 100% juice provides 1 serving (1/2 cup) of fruit.